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Richmond school is granted charter
By Jose A. Lopez
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
RICHMOND - A charter school with a proven track record in
reaching underachieving students in San Francisco got the green
light this week to hop across the Bay to open the doors of a small Richmond school this fall.
On Thursday, the West Contra Costa school district
board approved a charter school proposal submitted by Leadership Public
Schools.
The nonprofit charter school development company
opened in 2001 in an effort to replicate the success of the first
Leadership school, which opened in San Francisco seven years ago.
School officials say the school sends close to 99 percent of its students
to college. The school has consistently received high academic rankings
from the state.
Mark Kushner, founder and chief
executive of Leadership Public Schools, said the model that has been
successful in San Francisco can work in Richmond as well.
"We look forward to producing a small school that
meets our mission of offering an excellent education and developing
effective community leadership," Kushner said.
According to its mission, the school aims to
"serve diverse and traditionally underserved urban students."
The school w | 
